330 
AMERICAN AGRICULTURIST. 
[NOVEMBER, 
by Mr. Bailey, of Plattsburgh, not fully ripe, 
but considerably in advance of the Dianas, 
Concords, and Isabellas grown in the same gar- 
den. The quality, as judged by these speci- 
mens two thirds ripe, was very good. Several 
of Rogers' Hybrids were exhibited, but only 
one of them seemed thoroughly ripe. The flo- 
ral display was below the average of State 
fairs. Tet the show of dahlias was excellent, 
and there were choice small collections of rosi . 
verbenas, petunias, pansies, stocks, double zin- 
nias, asters and gladioli. The indefatigable Mrs. 
Van Namee, of Pittstown, was on hand in full 
force, and contributed much to the fulness ami 
richness of the exhibition. 
Discussions. — Each evening was devoted l" 
the discussion of agricultural topics, al the Cit}' 
Hall. For the first evening, the subject was : 
" The most economical mode of supplying the 
surface soil with the mineral food of plants." 
For Die second: "The best rotation of crops 
suited to the climatic conditions of the middle 
tier of counties in this State, on farms having 
at least eighty acres of good arable land." For 
the third evening, it was : " The best method of 
husbandry. The manures obtained from the 
method proposed, (rotation of crops, etc) and 
the best time of applying' them to the several 
crops, the economy of the management in that 
respect, on the farms being the same." These 
subjects were discussed with spirit, and elicited 
many useful facts. On the whole, therefore, we 
put down the State Fair of 1863, as a good one. 
The International Wheat Show. 
The International Wheat Show' held at Roch- 
ester as announced, did not bring out as large 
a representation from growers as the importance 
of the interest and liberality of the premiums, 
led its originators to expect. We learn from the 
Genesee Farmer, that there were but six entries 
for the prize of $150 for the best 20 bushels of 
White Winter Wheat. The premium was 
equally divided between Isaac II. Anderson, of 
West Flamboro, C. W., and E. S. Hay ward, 
Monroe Co., N. Y. The first exhibited a fine 
sample of Blue-Stem Wheat weighing G5 pounds 
per bushel ; it was cut July 8th, and yielded 30 
bushels per acre. The other parcel was a beau- 
tiful sample of Soule's Wheat. For the one 
hundred dollar prize for the best 20 bushels of 
Red Winter Wheat, but one lot was offered, by 
E. A. Hebard, of Oanandaigua, N. Y. It was 
known as the Amber or White Mediterranean, 
was harvested July 15th, and weighed 02 lbs. 
per bushel. For the best two bushels of While 
Winter Wheat there were seven competitors, 
five of whotn offered two-bushel samples of the 
same wheat as that entered for the twenty-bush- 
el prizes. For the best two bushels of Red 
Winter Wheat there were three entries; and 
but one entry for Spring Wheat. Among the 
lots of White Winter Wheat offered, there was 
one of twenty bushels grown by Jacob Hinds, 
Orleans Co., N. Y. In April 1852 he received 
a sample of Red wheat from the Patent Office, 
which he thought a Spring variety, and sowed 
immediately in his garden. It came up and re- 
mained green until Fall, but did not bead out. 
The next Spring it came rapidly forward, and 
early in July produced this wliite wheat. 
It is to be hoped that further efforts will be 
made to awaken an interest among wheal grow- 
ers, in the improvement of this first of staples, 
despite the poor success which seems to have 
attended the first trial. Perhaps more would 
enter the lists, were premiums offered previous 
to putting in the crop ; we should then be likely 
to learn something of what could be done by 
high cultivation. 
The Fair of The American Institute. 
Now that the Fair is a thing of the past, we 
feel disposed to indulge in a few reflections 
which may be considered by the managers be- 
fore they attempt another Exhibition. In form- 
er days we used to visit the Annual Fair for the 
purpose of seeing whatever was new in the way 
of agricultural machines and implements, and 
were very sure to be gratified and instructed. 
This year we went to the Fair with the hope of 
finding something which would be of interest to 
our agricultural readers, but with the exception 
of a single model (with no one to explain it) we 
saw nothing novel. To be sure there were nu- 
merous agricultural implements, but they were 
things taken directly from the stock of dealers, 
and were evidently exhibited as an advertise- 
ment of their wares. Even these things would 
have had some interest to many, had they not 
been so huddled together that it was impossible 
to get a fair view of them. Those things which 
could only be judged of when in motion, were so 
crowded against others as to be motionless, and 
some articles were not even unpacked. The 
management excuse this crowding by saying 
that they had no room. After they had taken 
such an unsuitable building as the Academy of 
Music for their Fair, of course everything must 
be crowded and in confusion. The fruit show 
was in some respects fine. There w T ere large 
collections from celebrated nurseries, and as an 
advertisement of these establishments it was 
good. We looked in vain for small collections 
of choice fruit from the hundreds of amateur 
cultivators around New- York. A stranger vis- 
iting the fair would suppose that we had no 
fruit growers in this vicinity, and that our friends 
from abroad bad undertaken to show us what 
good fruit was. While we were glad to see these 
line displays from cultivators living at a distance, 
we wondered where our own fruit growers were. 
The show of vegetables was remarkable — for its 
poverty. With the exception of a few squashes, 
potatoes, and onions, there was nothing that a 
corner grocer in his senses, would buy to retail 
to his customers. A lot of badly grown turnips, 
carrots, parsseps, and other roots made up the 
melancholy show of the Institute. The man- 
ic i i - say that they had no room to enable them 
to invite a large collection of vegetables. If 
this was the case they should have made no 
show at all. We are glad for the sake of the 
exhibitors that they do not depend upon mar- 
ket gardening for a living. We regard this 
branch of horticulture as one of the greatest 
importance, and it is one in which every head 
of a family has an interest. In the vicinity of 
New-York, kitchen gardening is carried to great 
perfection, and we hold that a show of its pro- 
ducts should be at least up to the average of 
what could be bought out of a New Jersey or 
Long Island firm wagon. 
As it seems to fall mainly to the American Insti- 
tute to foster the horticultural interests of this 
City, we hope measures will be taken another 
year, to bring out a fair representation of the 
horticultural products of this community. 
of three rams at $1000 each, and another indi- 
vidual in the same district is reported to have 
refuse,! an offer of $50,000 for bis stock, 200 
Merinos. We should say of this latter story as 
is often remarked concerning news from the 
South, " it lacks confirmation." 
High Piuced Sheep. — At the recent Exhi- 
bition of the Vermont State Agricultural Society, 
Mr. E. S. Stowed, of Cornwall, refused $1400 
for a ram; a farmer in Addison Co., disposed 
Packing Butter— Suggestions to Country 
Merchants. 
Very large quantities of butter arc received 
weekly in New- York, from country merchants 
who have taken it in barter for goods. Perhaps 
it would not be too much to say that the major- 
ity of butter sold at this port, for home consump- 
tion and for shipping, comes through these chan- 
nels. From want of skill or of care in prepar- 
ing it for market, the prices usually realized are 
far less than might be obtained. It is very un- 
satisfactory to producers to read in the publish- 
ed price-lists, "butter 23 to 27 cents per lb.," 
and then have only 15 to 20 cents offered in 
goods at the store; and they can not credit the 
statement of the merchant that he can only get 
that figure for what he sends to the city. Yet 
such is often the case, and for reasons which 
might be obviated, some of which are indicated 
in the following suggestions : — 
It is unjust as well as bad policy to pay a 
uniform price for all butter brought in, as 
is customary with many dealers. No doubt 
it is not pleasant to tell a customer that his oi- 
lier butter is worth less than some neighbor's, 
but if the same price be paid for all, it is in ef- 
fect offering a premium on carelessness, and 
only a second rate article need be expected. It 
is essential that butter should be of uniform 
finality and color. To this end it should be 
sorted as received, and that of similar character 
packed together. Most of it will need working 
over to take out the buttermilk, which in "si ore 
butter " is usually from two to three per cent 
in weight. It should be put in the tubs or fir- 
kins at once, as soon as worked ; and if there be 
not enough to fill the package, the top layer 
should be covered with a strong brine. When 
the package is full, the top should be made 
even and smooth, a clean piece of muslin, dip- 
ped in brine, be laid over it, and salt sprinkled 
on top of the cloth. The head of the firkin 
should not touch the butter. The actual weight 
of the firkin wdien empty should be plainly 
marked on the head — two pounds additional 
tare is allowed in this market for what the keg 
will soak. Nothing is gained ultimately In- 
marking a false tare; the deception is sure to 
be discovered in time, and the dishonest party 
loses credit thereafter. The kind of vessel in 
which to forward butter to market, depends 
considerably upon distance from the city, and 
the time of year. Early in the season, for fresh 
butter intended for immediate use, or from sec- 
tions near market, the half-firkin tub (the same 
as a firkin sawed in two), is generally preferred. 
Under other circumstances, kegs holding about 
100 lbs. are best, and indeed these are almost 
always salable. For shipping abroad, or for 
keeping any length of time, none others will 
answer. The best size and slwpe are, 22 inches 
high, 1G inches diameter of bilge, and 12 inches 
diameter of head, outside measurement; well 
made of wdiite oak, with smooth, round hickory 
hoops; the flat-hooped firkins of ash are not 
liked. No hole should be bond, nor plug put 
in the head or bottom. The firkins or tubs 
should be thoroughly soaked in brine, and the 
sides and bottom rubbed with fine dairy salt. 
Those who are receiving any considerable quan- 
